agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 14.7%
services: 85.2% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -4% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 3.36 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants,
and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing 9.2%, financing,
insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and communications 5.7%,
construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $23.1 billion
expenditures: $25.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY98/99)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys,
watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -8.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 29.529 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 34.612 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 610 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 7.76 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: $169.98 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothing, textiles, footwear, electrical
appliances, watches and clocks, toys
Exports - partners: China 34%, US 23%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%, UK 4%,
Singapore 2% (1998)
Imports: $174.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials,
semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported
Imports - partners: China 41%, Japan 13%, US 8%, Taiwan 7%, South
Korea 5%, Singapore 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $48.1 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: none
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.7780 (January
2000), 7.7575 (1999), 7.7453 (1998), 7.7427 (1997), 7.730 (1996),
7.800 (1995); note - Hong Kong became a special administrative region
of China on 1 July 1997; before then, linked to the US dollar at the
rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Hong Kong:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.708 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.4 million (July 1998)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and
international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean
and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5
international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member
nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.84 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 49 (1999)
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railways:
total: 34 km
standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
total: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,942,646 GRT/13,101,275
DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 157, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5,
combination bulk 2, container 53, liquified gas 5, multi-functional
large load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 14, short-sea passenger 1,
vehicle carrier 3 (1999 est.)
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13 countries
among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6, Bermuda 2,
Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Hong Kong:Military
Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation
Army (PLA) including elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and
PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the
Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative
control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,012,203 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,516,533 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 46,485 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA; note - separate budget for
Hong Kong not established by China
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China
@Hong Kong:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment
and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse
______________________________________________________________________
HOWLAND ISLAND
@Howland Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half
of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 1.6 sq km
land: 1.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a
narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife
@Howland Island:People
Population: uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and
naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during
World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by
special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and
generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by
US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2000 est.)
@Howland Island:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered
from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Howland Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Howland Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one
boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on
the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they
left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again;
the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation - note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle
of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II,
but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia
EARHART
@Howland Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
@Howland Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
HUNGARY
@Hungary:Introduction
Background: Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire,
which collapsed in World War I. It fell under communist rule following
World War II. A revolt in 1956 and an announced withdrawal from the
Warsaw Pact was met with massive military intervention by Moscow. In
the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve
the Warsaw Pact and steadily shifted toward multiparty democracy and a
market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991,
Hungary developed close political and economic ties to Western Europe.
It joined NATO in 1999 and is a frontrunner in a future expansion of
the EU.
@Hungary:Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the
Slovakian border
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable
land
Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 3.6%
permanent pastures: 12.4%
forests and woodland: 19%
other: 14% (1999)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues: the approximation of Hungary's standards
in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water
pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will
require large investments
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between
Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
@Hungary:People
Population: 10,138,844 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 878,661; female 834,607)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,407,368; female 3,535,818)
65 years and over: 15% (male 548,672; female 933,718) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.33% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 9.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.34 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.37 years
male: 67 years
female: 76.05 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak
0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist
and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
@Hungary:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20
urban counties* (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city**
(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,
Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,
Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,
Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,
Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,
Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the
coronation of King Stephen I in 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19
April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and also established the principle of parliamentary
oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system: rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously
interim president since 2 May 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year
term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held before August
2000); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the president
election results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335
votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;
Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386
seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of
proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June
2002)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSZP
32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%, MDF
2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party - MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,
FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note - the MDF won
17 single-member district seats; seating as of 1999 by party - MSZP
135, FIDESZ 146, FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 12, independents 3,
and 1 empty seat to be filled in a byelection
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Free Democrats or SZDSZ
; Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP
; Hungarian Civic Party or FIDESZ [Laszlo
KOVER, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID,
chairman]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet
PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Justice and Life Party or MIEP [Istvan
CSURKA, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP [Laszlo KOVACS,
chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP ;
Independent Smallholders or FKGP
International organization participation: ABEDA, Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 362-6730
FAX: (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO
embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: (1) 475-4400, 475-4703 (after hours)
FAX: (1) 475-4764
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and green
@Hungary:Economy
Economy - overview: Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic
growth and to work toward accession to the European Union. Over 85% of
the economy has been privatized. Foreign ownership of and investment
in Hungarian firms has been widespread with cumulative foreign direct
investment $21 billion by 1999. Hungarian sovereign debt is now rated
investment grade. GDP growth of 4% in 1999 will likely be matched or
even exceeded in 2000. Inflation, while diminished, is still high at
10%. Economic reform measures include regional development,
encouragement of small- and medium-size enterprises, and support of
housing.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $79.4 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 30%
services: 65% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 27%, agriculture
8% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $13.5 billion
expenditures: $15.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 35.104 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 61%
hydro: 1%
nuclear: 38%
other: 0% (1999 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 33.317 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 3.3 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.97 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar
beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $22.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other
manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw materials
2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports - partners: Germany 37%, Austria 11%, Italy 6%, Netherlands 5%
(1998)
Imports: $25.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other
manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food
products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports - partners: Germany 28%, Austria 10%, Italy 8%, Russia 7%
(1998)
Debt - external: $27 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 251.150 (January 2000), 237.146
(1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Hungary:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.893 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.269 million (1995)
Telephone system: the telephone system has been modernized and is
capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service
domestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunk
services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio
relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated
in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones
international: Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all
neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean
regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system of
ground terminals
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 39 (plus several low-power stations)
(1997)
Televisions: 4.42 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (1999)
@Hungary:Transportation
Railways:
total: 7,606 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,394 km 1.435-m gauge (2,270 km electrified; 1,236 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.760-m gauge (1998)
note: Hungary and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurt (Gysev railroad)
a distance of about 101 km in Hungary and 65 km in Austria
Highways:
total: 188,203 km
paved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)
unpaved: 106,523 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,373 km permanently navigable (1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports and harbors: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,949 GRT/14,550 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 43 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 7 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 5 (1999 est.)
@Hungary:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Border Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,588,365 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,062,565 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 67,160 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $732.2 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY99)
@Hungary:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ongoing Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
and cannabis and transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly
for amphetamines and methamphetamines
______________________________________________________________________
ICELAND
@Iceland:Introduction
Background: Settled by Norwegians and Celtic (Scottish and Irish)
immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries, Iceland boasts the
world's oldest parliament, the Althing, established in 930.
Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by
Norway and Denmark. Limited home rule was granted in 1874 and complete
independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social
cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
@Iceland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy
winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields;
coast deeply indented by bays and fiords